Hospital Closures: Zwander Detects "Wave of Lawsuits by the FPÖ"

As a result, the Social Democrats, according to state managing director Wolfgang Zwander, are now facing a "wave of lawsuits from the FPÖ". An initial lawsuit has been dismissed. On Monday, Zwander demanded "openness and transparency" from the Freedom Party regarding their plans.

After the SPÖ claimed that the ÖVP and FPÖ "might systematically close hospitals in Lower Austria", the state organisation and red district parties received "a lot of registered letters" from the FPÖ around Christmas. Zwander spoke of "eight to ten" lawsuits at a press conference. Corrections and interim injunctions were sought.

An initial lawsuit - directed against the SPÖ district organisation Korneuburg - has already been dismissed, emphasised Zwander. There was a lack of "any factual assertion", for which the plaintiff is responsible for the burden of proof of such a desired correction. In short, the Freedom Party would have to state why they see the issue differently, "but the FPÖ did not do that". The Blues have thus failed with the "wave of intimidation" in the "first round". The other lawsuits are "identical", a "pattern can be recognised".

Zwander: FPÖ Should Make a Stand

Zwander, on the other hand, demanded "openness and transparency" from the Freedom Party. The FPÖ should clarify what it intends and wants in terms of possible hospital closures, so far it has "never clearly articulated politically". They do not publicly commit, but try to silence other parties "through the back door" via the legal route, stated the SPÖ state managing director.

According to a paper published in the media last October, it is advised to merge the Hollabrunn, Korneuburg and Stockerau (Korneuburg district) clinics into a new Weinviertel South-West hospital. The Gänserndorf location is to become a primary care centre. In addition, acute care is to be discontinued at some clinics, which are to be converted into special hospitals. As part of the health pact, experts are currently developing their assessments for the future of care, with the first quarter of this year being the time horizon.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.